melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan looks at the career of new Melbourne coach Mark Neeld so far
Mark Neeld
Born: July 13, 1971
1990 - Recruited from St Joseph’s, Neeld makes his AFL debut against North Melbourne in round 17. His coach is Malcolm Blight. The 19-year-old wears No.55 and has six disposals.
1991 - Switching to No.22, he plays 21 matches for the Cats, including three finals against St Kilda (elimination final), Hawthorn (semi-final) and West Coast (preliminary final). He kicks a career-best four goals against North Melbourne in round eight. Neeld boots five majors in the finals - three against the Hawks and two against the Eagles.
1992 - Makes 11 appearances for the Cats, but doesn’t play in Geelong’s finals.
1993 - Adds 10 more games to his tally, but finishes up with Geelong at season’s end. He ends with 48 matches and 17 goals for Geelong. Neeld is then traded to Richmond for selection No.38 (David Innella).
1994 - Plays 12 matches in his first season for Richmond. He wears No.19 guernsey.
1995 - Adds another 12 games to his name, but doesn’t play in any of Richmond’s three finals.
1996 - Neeld plays two matches in his final season for the Tigers. He plays in the opening round against Essendon, before his final AFL match comes against Fremantle in round nine. He plays 26 matches and kicks 16 goals for the Tigers. In total, Neeld finishes with 74 AFL matches and 33 AFL goals.
1997 - Named captain/coach of Old Geelong in the VAFA.
1998 - Spends his second season with Old Geelong as captain/coach.
1999 - Steps down as captain, but remains coach of Old Geelong. He is named on the half-forward flank and vice-captain in Old Geelong’s team of the half century.
2000 - Appointed coach of Ocean Grove. He guides the Grubbers to the premiership.
2001 - Neeld makes it back-to-back premierships for Ocean Grove.
2002 - He achieves triple premiership victories with Ocean Grove.
2003 - Neeld leads the Grubbers to their fourth consecutive premiership. He finishes his Ocean Grove coaching reign with four flags in four seasons.
2004 - Joins St Joseph’s as coach. He leads the club he was recruited from by Geelong for one season.
2005 - Neeld coaches Western Jets in the TAC Cup.
2006 - Guides Western Jets for a second season.
2007 - After three seasons with Western Jets, Neeld is approached by Collingwood to join its coaching panel.
2008 - Neeld coaches the Collingwood defence in his first season with the Magpies.
2009 - He again looks after the Collingwood backline. The Magpies concede 1778 points for the season - the third best in the AFL.
2010 - Takes over as Collingwood midfield coach. Neeld is instrumental in the club’s 15th premiership. Two of his midfielders - Dane Swan (24 votes) and Scott Pendlebury (21) - finish in the Brownlow Medal top five. Three of his midfielders - Swan, Pendlebury and Alan Didak - are named All-Australian. Remarkably, he undergoes a brain operation following Collingwood’s premiership, after experiencing severe headaches during the season. He delayed a potentially life-threatening situation until after Collingwood’s premiership. He bounces back strongly to attend Collingwood’s pre-season camp in Arizona in November.
2011 - Again heads up Collingwood’s midfield, playing a pivotal role in Collingwood finishing top of the table after the home and away season for the second successive season. Neeld’s profile as a potential AFL coach builds throughout the year. Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse lauds Neeld, the Collingwood senior assistant coach, as an AFL coach in waiting. Malthouse says “in many respects” Neeld is more ready to coach than former Collingwood assistant coach and now North Melbourne coach Brad Scott. Neeld is strongly linked to vacant coaching positions Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne. The Demons announce Neeld as their new coach on Saturday, September 17.